Journal of Economic Literature
Book Reviews
2026-09-01
Sara Markowitz of Emory University reviews “Paying the Tab: The Economics of Alcohol Policy” by Philip J. Cook,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Presents an analysis of the complex policy issue of alcohol control. Discusses a brief history of the supply side; the alcoholism movement; drinking--a primer; prices and quantities; alcohol control as injury prevention; long-term effects--hearts and minds; the tendency of drinkers to earn more than those who abstain; evaluating interventions; regulating supply; taxing the alcohol industry; youth as a special case; and alcohol-control policy for the twenty-first century. Cook is Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Duke University. Index.”